Elderly Buddhist monk succumbs to injuries after attack in Bangladesh

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

He chose to live in seclusion in a remote temple to attain Buddhist wisdom and most of his time was devoted to religious rites, prayers and meditation. But the 75-year-old Buddhist monk, Dharma Jyoti Thero,  was critically injured in an attack at a remote temple in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, on Monday, succumbed to his injuries and breathed his last on Thursday early hours.

His family members and locals say it’s out of question that he had any enmity with anyone. May all beings be happy — this was what the monk wanted like any other Buddhist monk.     

So devotees in the area could not believe their eyes when they saw critically injured of Dharma Jyoti Thero. 

His untimely demise follows severe injuries, including head trauma, as confirmed by Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector of Panchlaish police station in Chattogram.

“After an autopsy, we handed over the body to the victim’s family,” stated Islam, highlighting the forthcoming procedures to be carried out.

The monk had been admitted to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital on Monday night due to critical injuries sustained to his head and other parts of his body, according to Dr. Aung Swi Prue Marma, Deputy Director of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.

As investigations continue, the motive behind the attack remains shrouded in uncertainty. However, given the area’s predominantly Rohingya population, suspicions have emerged, with armed groups such as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) and the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) coming under scrutiny. Yet, no concrete evidence has surfaced regarding their involvement.

Dharma Jyoti Thero was the principal of Morichha Srabosti Buddhist temple which is about 08 kilometres from Ukhiya upazila headquarters and home to a community of around 80 Barua families, all followers of Buddhism.

He dedicated himself to the path of spiritualism around thirteen years ago and took the present name. His previous name was Bijoy Barua, said one Santosh Barua, a devotee of the area.

Police could not ascertain the motive behind the attack immediately but one official told they are investigating the attack keeping mind all possible causes including attack on the people of different faiths and ideologies.

The victim’s son, Sumon Barua said his father had no enmity with anyone in the area.

“After the attack on my father we have struggled for an ICU support from Monday night to till Tuesday night at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital”, lamented Sumon.

Dr Aung Swi Prue Marma, Deputy Director of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital said “The critically injured monk died at around 2.40 am on Thursday following severe injuries in his head and other parts of his body.”

There is a limitation of ICU beds in our hospital, but we arranged an ICU bed for the critically injured monk last night”, said Dr Aung Swi.

The attackers intruded into the temple by breaking its door and attacked the monk with sharp weapons, said Santosh Barua.

Venerable Dharma Jyoti, 75, was the principal of Morichha Srabosti Buddhist temple of the area, he said.

 “I found him critically injured and senseless around 6:30am when I went to the Kyang (temple) to serve him food”, said one Bappi Barua, grandson of the victim of the area.

“We first took him [the victim] to Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex for treatment,” he further said, adding that doctors at the complex later referred him Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

“As his condition was deteriorating he was sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital from Cox’s Bazar”, Santosh said,

Md Russel, additional police super of Ukhiya circle said, “A case was filed in this connection while we are trying to arrest the criminals and investigating the attack on a religious leader giving top priority.”

Dr Shajedul Imran, resident medical officer of Ukhiya Upazila Health Complex, said, “The injured monk had wounds on his head, hand and other parts of the body.”

“Earlier, in 2012 a Buddhist temple was torched in the area”, said Santosh.

The Buddhist community members in the area are scared after the attack on the monk, he added.

“We still don’t know who attacked the Buddhist monk. We are all concerned about this incident. We want a proper investigation”, said Progyananda Bhikkhu, president of Cox’s Bazar District Buddhist protection council and also assistant director of Ramu Kendriya Seema Maha Vihara.

“Being an area inhabited by Rohingya refugees, Cox’s Bazar is now a very vulnerable area in Bangladesh while Ukhiya is one of the crime zone of the district” he said.

“Repeated attacks on religious leaders or institutions are narrowing the path of the religious freedom in our country”, said Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, the Supreme Court lawyer who filed a petition seeking justice for the 2012 attack on the Buddhist community of Ramu in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.